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Inkscape 0.48 lined up and released

The open source scalable vector editor Inkscape has been updated to version 0.48 in a release designed to incorporate Google Summer of Code (GSoC) improvements and other developments over the last nine months. Among the new features added to Inkscape 0.48 is multipath editing, an improved text tool, a new airbrush tool, LaTeX export and an extension to help in creating presentations.

In 2009, the Inkscape Node tool was rewritten as part of a GSoC project and the subsequent changes have been incorporated into the core of Inkscape for further development; for example, in the new multipath editing. The text tool now allows users to control line, letter and word spacing, horizontal kerning, vertical shifts and character rotation while adding support for superscripts and subscripts; this work was funded through Linuxfund.org.

The new Spray tool in Inkscape 0.48 has three modes and can clone, copy or spray images as a path.
Source: Inkscape/DiSmeCha
The airbrush / Spray tool allows for random scattered replication of items or paths around a point and is designed to complement Inkscape's Tweak tool. For users who want to create presentations, Python extension JessyInk can convert Inkscape SVG layers into web browsable slides. Other improvements include the ability to stop font samples appearing in the Text tool's drop down list, tool-tips in the File -> Open Recent menu, extended input device configuration, wider CMYK and ICC support in the user interface, custom swatches and a refined icon dialogue.

The Windows port of Inkscape has also been improved; as well as an improved command line which is now "on a par with Unix", Inkscape can be easily run from the command-line as "inkscape" and understands relative paths. There are also bug fixes to improve stability and Unicode compatibility.

Full details of the changes are available in the release notes. Inkscape is available to download as pre-compiled executables for Windows and Mac OS X or as source code which can be also be compiled on Linux.